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An Investigative Report on Track Record, Grassroots Strength and 2027 Electoral Strategy
As the Allied People’s Movement, APM, in Oyo State continues its consensus and endorsement process ahead of the 2026 Local Government Election, attention in Oluyole Local Government has narrowed to one critical question; Who has the structure, experience, and loyalty to deliver the council for the party and for the bigger 2027 project?
While conclusions are yet to be reached in Oluyole and several other LGAs, political stakeholders, ward leaders, and grassroots mobilizers are converging on one name; Hon. Settle Olaide Popoola, immediate past Executive Chairman of Oluyole LG.
This investigative feature examines why many within APM believe that “Only Settle Olaide Can Deliver Oluyole For Makinde, Adekanmbi” based on track record, political experience, and his identity as a true “son of the soil.”
Across Oyo State, APM leadership has embraced consensus as a strategy for unity, maturity, and electoral victory. The process is still ongoing, and party leaders have stressed that every LGA must present its most electable and most loyal candidate.
In Oluyole, the stakes are higher. The LGA is a key vote bank for Ibadan Federal Constituency and will be critical to delivering votes for Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential ambition and Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi’s gubernatorial ambition in 2027.
With APC already promising to “triple votes” from Oluyole, APM cannot afford experimentation. The party needs a candidate with verifiable structure and governance record.
Hon. Settle Olaide Popoola previously served as Executive Chairman of Oluyole Local Government. His tenure is still referenced by party leaders and community stakeholders for its visible impact.
During his time in office, he reported and delivered projects across the 10 wards:
1. *Education & Youth*: Free holiday coaching for students, cash rewards to support learning
2. *Power*: Distribution of *12 transformers to 12 communities*
3. *Water*: Provision of *8 boreholes* across the local government
4. *Health*: Rehabilitation of primary health centers
5. *Security*: Facilitation of *Operation Burst*, construction of *two new police stations*, and commissioning of the Oluyole Security Surveillance Team, OSST to support DSS, Police, Civil Defense and Amotekun
He also emphasized collaboration with security agencies to patrol “all nooks and crannies” and to curb youth involvement in drugs and social vices.
This is why elder statesmen in the party describe him as “an asset whose records would be difficult to surpass.”
As consensus talks continue, three factors keep bringing Hon. Settle’s name to the front:
1. *Son of the Soil with Grassroots Structure*: A native with deep roots, he enjoys direct access to ward chairmen, Baales, market leaders, youth groups, and religious bodies. His politics has been described as “pure, classic and educative” with emphasis on peace.
2. *Tested Loyalty to Makinde’s Vision*: Hon. Settle has consistently aligned with Governor Makinde, acknowledging him as a leader who opened doors for youth in governance. Party sources say this loyalty makes him best placed to mobilize Oluyole for Makinde’s national ambition.
3. *Electoral Experience*: He understands how to convert structure to votes. Oluyole delivered over 21,000 votes for PDP in the last governorship. With Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi also in the gubernatorial conversation, stakeholders argue Oluyole needs a chairman who already knows the terrain.
He has also remained active in party engagements. He was present at the recent Oluyole PDP stakeholders’ meeting where leaders renewed loyalty to Governor Makinde, and he featured in a high-powered delegation on infrastructure inspection with the Commissioner for Works.
His recent installation as Aare Bobaselu of Ora-Igbomina further reinforces his image as a community leader recognized beyond politics.
As APM continues consultations in Oluyole, the central argument among stakeholders is simple: 2026 and 2027 are not elections for trial and error.
Oluyole requires a chairman who has governed before, who has delivered projects, who has a security blueprint, and who can be trusted to mobilize for the party’s presidential and gubernatorial ambitions.
That is the case being made for Hon. Settle Olaide Popoola.
As one party leader put it: “We are backing our support with action, mobilization, and sustained engagement across all wards. Oluyole will not be found wanting.”
With consensus still ongoing, the message from the grassroots is becoming clearer; “For continuity, for delivery, for victory in 2027, only Settle Olaide Popoola can deliver Oluyole for Makinde, Adekanmbi.
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